DOVER — In the race for governor, Republican Ovide Lamontagne and Democrat Maggie Hassan have prevailed in the New Hampshire primary.

It was evident soon after the polls closed Tuesday that Republican Congressmen Frank Guinta and Charles Bass had also easily carried their primary races.

In the Republican primary, Lamontagne had captured 72 percent of the vote, compared with the 26 percent garnered by his major opponent, Litchfield conservative Kevin Smith, shortly before 9 p.m. Those tallies were based on reports from 16 percent of precincts in the state. Smith conceded the race before 9:30 p.m., according to the Associated Press.

With 17 percent of precincts reporting, Hassan had taken a 60 percent to 32 percent lead over her major primary opponent, Jackie Cilley, shortly before 9 p.m., according to the Associated Press. That tally was reported shortly before 9 p.m. Tuesday.

Political newcomer Bill Kennedy had received 8 percent of the vote.

The Associated Press had called the race in Hassan's favor shortly after 10 p.m. Tuesday.

The governor's race is among the highlights of Tuesday's primary election, which includes the first open race for governor in years. Many candidates were also competing for the first time in new voting districts during the Sept. 11 primary.

Election officials and voters alike are also using today's election as a trial run of New Hampshire's new voter identification requirements, which will go into full effect in the general election in November. Voters are being asked to voluntarily present photo identification by election officials before they receive a ballot.

In Newmarket, voters have expressed both support for and disdain of the new identification requirements, according to Town Clerk Becky I. Benvenuti. By 10:15 a.m., a few hours after polls opened in the morning, 14 people had neglected to bring proper identification, and another six had refused, on principle, to show identification, Benvenuti said.

“I guess the best thing to say is I've noticed a lot of passion on either side of this law,” Newmarket Town Moderator Clay Mitchell said. “There are some people who are very supportive. There are some people who oppose it very much.”

The voter identification law was passed by New Hampshire's Republican Legislature in 2012. It will phase in a photo identification requirement, beginning with this election cycle.

During today's primary, any voter who did not present an approved photo identification was still permitted to vote. During the general election on Nov. 6, voters without ID will be allowed to vote after signing a so-called “challenged voter” affidavit.

Hassan and Lamontagne are seeking to replace retiring Democrat Gov. John Lynch, a popular moderate who won four two-year terms. Republicans are eager after eight years to reclaim the governor's seat, but candidates in both parties are struggling to get voters to recognize their names. In a poll done last month, undecided was the winner.

Lamontagne, a 54-year-old Manchester lawyer, stressed his experience as a business lawyer and working with charities makes him better qualified.

Hassan, a former Senate majority leader and 54-year-old lawyer from Exeter, argues the key to prosperity is education. Hassan says an educated workforce is the place to start in rebuilding the economy. She would restore aid cut under Republicans to the University System of New Hampshire in exchange for a tuition freeze and more slots for resident students.

Hassan says she had to bring people together as Senate majority leader to get results and would do the same as governor.